Basket or crate.



No. 792,061. PATENTED JUNE 13, 1905. W. MORLEY & A. F. MoATEE.

BASKET OR CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6, 1904.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

53 Andrew K b9 Marie? 38 m 6 Invefitorg,

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I Httomgs No. 792.061. PATENTED JUNE13,1905. W. MORLEY & A. F. MQATEE.

'BASKET 0R CRATE.

APPLIGATION FILED APR. 6, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Inventors.

Httomegs PfLEEFfM/OPZQQ x m E.

14 ndhewl ZE Witnesses f NTTED STATES Patented June 13, 1905.

PATENT Trice.

BASKET OR CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 792,061, dated June 13, 1905.

Application filed April 6, 1904. Serial No. 201,874.

To (/17 10/1/0712, it puny concern.-

Be it known that we, \VALTER MORLEY and ANDREW F. MOATEE, citizens of the United States, residingat Salem, in the county of Marion and State of Oregon, have invented anew and. useful Basket or Crate, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to baskets or crates, and particularly to that class constructed of slats or staves spaced apart to permit ventilation of the contents.

The object of the invention is to assemble the slats in such manner that while being positively held against accidental separation they will be permitted to yield to lateral and end pressure, thereby to avoid breakage which would otherwise result if the structure were rigid in character; furthermore, to cause the coverfastening means to present a positive lock for holding the assembling band or hoop against working down upon the body of the receptacle while being handled or shipped; furthermore, to combine the assembling band or hoop with the receptacle in such manner as while permitting requisite yield of such band its accidental separation from the receptacle will positively be precluded; furthermore, to effect the spacing of the body members in a manner that shall at once be positive and novel; furthermore, to obviate the presentation of obstructions or projections on the inner side of the receptacle which would tend to injure its contents, especially if fruit.

\Vith the above and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a ventilated basket or crate, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts, there are illustrated two forms of embodiment of the invention, each capable of carrying the sameinto practical operation, it being understood that the elements therein exhibited may be varied or changed as to shape, proportion, and exact manner of assemblage without departing from the spirit thereof, and in these drawings Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a basket constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the upper portion of the basket with the cover in position. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view taken from the front of the basket-slats, showing the manner in which the assembling band or hoop and bindersstructures adapted for shipping produce or,

fowls, and as the manner in which these different modifications of the invention may be carried into effect will be obvious it is thought that illustration of two forms of embodiment of the invention are all that is necessary.

Referring to the drawings, particularly to Fig. 1, and incidentally to Figs. 2, 3, and 4:, there is illustrated a basket constructed in accordance with the present invention and which comprises a plurality of slats or staves 1, held combined, in part, by an assembling band or hoop 2 and binder-wires 3. The assembling-band is by preference made of a piece of resilient wire, such as brass or the like, the ends of which overlap for a distance equal to one or more staves, the terminals of the overlapped portions being formed into loops or eyes 4:, which are turned one or more times around the band or hoop, and thus serve eifectually to secure its ends.

It will be observed by reference to Fig. 1 that the eyes or loops 4: are disposed between the spaces of the slats or staves, and are thus in position to bear thereagainst when expansive or compressive strain is applied to the basket, thus serving to brace the receptacle against any tendency of yielding to an chjectionable degree in either direction, but at the same time permitting a suflicient amount of yield to relieve the receptacle of danger of breaking under either condition.

While it is preferred to employ a metallic assembling-band, the term band being employed to indicate a metallic wire or flat strip, itis to be understood that, if preferred, a wooden band or hoop may be employed, as by the novel arrangement of the binder 3 the hoop would be positively combined with the slats or staves against possibility of separation or being moved from its proper position. Generally but one of the assemblingbands will be utilized upon a basket, but, if preferred, two or more may be employed, and where the invention is carried into effect in connection with a crate or barrel, as shown in Fig. 5, there will be an assembling-band at each end of the structure and one intermediate of its ends.

In connection with Fig. 5 it may be stated that while the structure is shown as rectangular in form to present a crate yet the arrangement of the parts is such that it may be readily formed into a structure circular in cross-section, thus to present a barrel, and with a barrel thus constructed heads will be combined in a manner presently to be described.

The binder 3 consists of two wire strands 5 and 6 which pass alternately around the inner face of the staves and diagonally around the assembling-band and meet between the slats and are twisted once or more around the assembling-band, thus effecting a twisted connection of the binders between each of the staves, the twists operating positively to hold the staves spaced the desired distance apart. As the strands are drawn taut they sink into the slats, and thus not only firmlybind themselves with the slats, but also with the assembling-bands. This feature is of importance for the reason that if the basket, crate, or barrel, as the case may be, is subjected to lateral strain sufficient to compress the structure and with it the assembling-band there will be no loosening of either of the parts, so that a structure made by the procedure defined will be positively effective at all times to carry out the purposes designed. In effecting the interweave of the binders with each other and upon the staves the wires are stretched taut between the spaces of the staves and are re spectively drawn diagonally across the assembling-band on the outside of the receptacle and upon the staves or slats on its inner side, and after the entire band has been firmly bound upon the slats the adjacent edges of the slats are all spaced apart by the twists or coils 7 in the manner above stated.

In baskets where a middle hoop or band is not required a small pliable hoop 8 may be substituted and may be formed of a single wire having its ends fastened together by loops 9, and after the hoop or band is properly positioned upon the staves it is secured in position thereon by staples 10, the ends of the prongs of which are clenched upon the inner surface of the staves, thus holding the hoop positively in position upon the basket and at the same time obviating the presentation of protuberances on the inner side of the basket, which would be objectionable.

In order still further to stiffen and brace the receptacle, a series of brace-wires 11 are employed, which for convenience are formed in pairs from a single wire strand, each pair being wrapped at its center around the assembling-band between two of the staves. From their points of engagement with the binders and assembling-band the braces are extended downward diagonally and in opposite directions and pass under the hoop or hoops and are bent at their lower ends inward against the bottom, the terminals being formed into loops 12, through which staples 13 are secured, additional staples 14f being employed, if preferred, to increase the security of the connection. here these bracewires are used in connection with crates or barrels, their ends are secured to the terminal or end assembling-bands, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The bottom 15 is disposed within the lower ends of the slats and is held in place by nails 16, passed through the slats and by a hoop or band 17, preferably of flat metal, which is held in position by nails 18, passed through the band and slats and into the bottom. In each form of embodiment of the invention herein shown the spaces are straight from end to end; but it is to be understood that, if preferred, they may be tapered toward one or both ends if found necessary or desirable.

Upon opposite sides of the basket are disposed handles, each of which consists of a bale 19, the terminals of which are twisted around the assembling-band and a handpiece 20, preferably of wood.

The cover 21 for the basket, and the same may be used in connection with a crate or barrel, is of the shape of the receptacle with which it is associated, and in this instance is shown as circular. The cover is provided with a flange or protecting-rim 22, that projects over the edges of the staves or slats, and thus prevents them and supports the cover from falling inward and at the same time braces the upper ends of the slats from inward compression. The means employed to secure the cover to the basket consists of a series of wire keepers 23, each of which is coiled one or more times around the assembling-band and thence bent over upon the top of the cover, where they are secured by staples 24:, of which any desired number may be employed. The keepers not only subserve the function of securing the cover to the basket, but also of holding the assembling-band against possibility of dropping or moving down upon the body, while the brace-wires positively prevent the lifting of the cover without destroying the keepers, the said brace-wires operating, as will be apparent, tohold the assembling-band in its adjusted position.

The novel manner in which the assemblingband is combined with the staves of the receptacle is one of importance, as it renders the structure of great strength and positively preeludes accidental separation of the band therefrom. Further, the employment of the diagonally-disposed brace-wires and the manner in which they are secured to the bottom operates to check any tendency of bulging of the basket as when a number of them are nested for the purpose of transportation, and, further, as above pointed out, these brace-wires will positively hold the assembling-band from being drawn from the basket should an attempt be made to remove the cover without interfering with the keepers.

The structure as a whole is exceedingly simple of construction and may be manufactured readily and cheaply and without the employment of intricate machinery for the purpose, thereby reducing the cost of manufacture to a minimum and facilitating its production.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim is- 1. In a ventilated basket or the like, the combination with the body-slats, of an assembling-band the end portions of which are overlapped and the terminals of the overlapped portions being formed into loops encircling the band and disposed between the slats and forming means for bracing the basket against expansive or compressive strain, and binders passing diagonally across the band and alternately around the inner and outer sides of the slats and having coiled portions to hold the slats properly spaced.

2. In a, ventilated basket or the like, the combination with the body-slats, of an assembling-band, binders passing diagonally across the band and alternately around the inner and outer sides of the slats and having coiled portions to hold the slats spaced, brace-Wires secured upon the assembling-band between the slats and having their free ends secured to the under side of the basket-bottom, and a hoop or band encircling the outer portion of the lower part of the body.

3. In a ventilated basket or the like, the combination With the body-slats, of a resilient assembling-band, having its terminals overlapped and looped together, binders passing diagonally across the assembling-band and inner sides of the slats and having coiled portions to hold the slats properly spaced, bracewires coiled about the band between the slats, and being diagonally disposed and having their lower ends secured to the bottom of the basket, and an intermediate hoop disposed externally of the brace-wires and stapled to the slats.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own We have hereto afiiXed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

WALTER MORLEY. ANDREWV F. MOATEE. W'itnesses:

J. H. ELGIN, W. A. MooREs. 

